Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The tabling of the document, Universal Affordable Daycare Feasibility Study, in May and June 2015, is a comprehensive package that has been delivered to us. We had an outside consultant give us some feedback of an affordability nature. Obviously, this area does create some challenges within my department within GNWT. When we talk about existing licenced child care spaces, obviously we would have to double that in the communities. This is information that was shared to us by consultants as well. Many communities are lacking infrastructure, as well, so we have to build on...

Part of the cultural development and also supporting those areas obviously falls within the community and working with the community, especially the elders and how they can provide wisdom and knowledge. When it comes to a grieving process, obviously we are going through that process as well. We’ve gone through so many of them already in the communities. We have our staff working with the community leaders and community elders, counsellors.

Obviously, there is a respect for culture. At the end of the day, if there is a lack of awareness of the cultural perspective, a lack of respect, then we...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There is a protocol in place, a process that we obviously respect at the community level. We involve the elders whenever there’s a grieving process. We work very closely, whether it be the school board, the agencies that deliver educational programs to our schools or to our community. There is an orientation for all staff to go through and how we can access the elders, the contacts in the community who are the experts in the community. So, that is information that is easily accessible for these personnel, the professionals that we employ to work with the community members...

When it comes to financial literacy, the courses that are being delivered in high school, the purpose of financial modules is to provide our residents with the knowledge, skills and abilities required to manage their finances from young adults right through retirement. Where Members were referring to providing tools to these individuals, we are currently providing those modules in our schools. There are 11 different modules, such as managing debt, mortgages, retirement, bank accounts, banking and credit. So these are some of the core courses we are currently delivering. At the same time, if...

I wasn’t aware of the new program that’s out there. If the Member is willing to share that information, by all means, we can certainly look at it. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is focused on ensuring opportunities, education and training are available to all residents of the Northwest Territories. As our labour market needs to expand, so do the opportunities. The GNWT Population Growth Strategy has a target to bring 2000 people to the territory in the next four years, and ECE is doing its part to contribute to that strategy through one of our most valuable resources: our students. The department supports NWT post-secondary students to obtain the skills and education they need to contribute to a...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Feasibility Study of Universal Affordable Daycare in the Northwest Territories.” Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

We went through all the options that we have: career and life management studies, financial management, career technology course studies that we currently deliver to top it off with other programming. So we have to weigh our options, what’s the best way to deliver those financial literacy courses into communities, into regions. So by all means, if that information is shared with us, we can seriously look at it and see what options we can work with. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We do provide financial literacy programs through our high school programming. Part of that is Grade 10 in career and life management studies and grades 10 to 12 financial management, career and technology studies. These are just some of the areas that we are currently delivering in our high schools.

Not only that but we’ve reached out to community learning centres, as well, across the Northwest Territories to deliver financial literacy, and also through different departments, such as career development officers, client service officers and probation officers. Those are some...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 65, An Act to Amend the Safety Act, be read for the first time.